Robert Casilla (born April 16, 1959) is an American artist and illustrator of award-winning children's books. He has illustrated over 30 children's books, including biographies and multicultural stories. His illustrations are influenced by his Hispanic background. Biography Mr. Casilla was born in Jersey City, New Jersey and received a BFA from the School of Visual Arts in New York City in 1982. Mr. Casilla has illustrated several books for children, including biographies of Martin Luther King Jr., John F. Kennedy, Jackie Robinson, and Eleanor Roosevelt. His parents are native from Puerto Rico and Mr. Casilla attended school in Puerto Rico in the fourth grade. He has illustrated various multicultural children books, including Belpré Medal winner First Day in Grapes. Casilla has been interested in drawing since he was a child. He currently resides in New Fairfield, Connecticut. He lives with his wife and two children. He has three cats and one dog. Careers Robert Casilla has worked as a freelance illustrator for magazines, book publishers, and educational publishers. He has illustrated over 30 children's books. He currently teaches art to children and he visits schools to talk to students about the process of illustrating books and biographies. He studied under the artists Marshal Arisman, Jim McMullan, Baron Storey and Julian Allen. Works Martin Luther King, Jr.: Free at Last written by David A. Adler, Holiday House 1986. The Train to Lulu's written by Elizabeth Fitzgerald Howard, Bradbury Press 1988. Poems for Fathers written by Myra Cohn Livingston, Holiday House 1989. Jackie Robinson: He Was First written by David A. Adler, Holiday House 1989. A Picture Book of Martin Luther King Jr. written by David A. Adler, Holiday House 1989. A Picture Book of John F. Kennedy written by David A. Adler, Holiday House 1991. Con mi hermano/With my Brother written by Eileen Roe, Maxwell Macmillan International Pub. Group 1991. A Picture Book of Eleanor Roosevelt written by David A. Adler, Holiday House 1991. A Picture Book of Jesse Owens written by David A. Adler, Holiday House 1992. A Picture Book of Simon Bolivar written by David A. Adler, Holiday House 1992. A Picture Book of Rosa Parks written by David A. Adler, Holiday House 1993. The Little Painter of Sabana Grande written by Patricia Maloney Markun, Maxwell Macmillan International 1993. The Pool Party written by Gary Soto, Delacorte Press 1993. Rodeo Day written by JoNelle Toriseva, Simon & Schuster Children's